Expanding access to care: It takes more than health insurance

Health care can help create healthy communities and promote healthy minds and bodies. However, this can only happen if people have access to the health care. In the United States, millions of people lack access to health care, which limits the country's ability to create healthy communities and promote healthy minds and bodies. The Patient Care and Affordable Care Act in 2010 raised hopes that most Americans will eventually have financial access to care. Yet, more than health insurance is needed to assure access to health care. There are powerful non-financial barriers to care such as language, culture, transportation, time, and availability of providers. Changes in society and the health care system have made these barriers more common, and they must be removed to fully create healthy communities, minds, and bodies. Health care leaders and managers in some communities have already implemented solutions to overcome these barriers, and new solutions are emerging. What can be learned from them? This presentation will define access to care and explain what is required to assure access. Then it will identify barriers to access. Finally, it will report practical approaches to overcome the barriers, expand access to care, and thereby help create healthy communities, minds, and bodies.